Motherhood is a profound journey that demands strength, care and resilience. For refugee women in Greece, the experience of motherhood is deeply shaped by the challenges of displacement, uncertainty, and systemic barriers. While every mother carries hopes for her children's safety, education, and happiness, refugee mothers often fight for the most basic needs, without state nor family support to go through this journey.
Since the Easter weekend, one of the most important celebrations in the Orthodox calendar, Kos has transformed its face. As every spring, shopfronts have been freshly repainted, restaurants along the harbour have reopened, terraces are filling up, and the air is filled with a mix of languages. The return of tourists brings small businesses back to life, rekindles the enthusiasm of restaurant owners, and infuses the island with the seasonal energy locals know so well. But just a few kilometres away, in another Kos, doors don’t open with the same warmth. For those who cross the sea seeking asylum, there’s no ouzo toast to welcome them. In this microcosm of the Aegean, two kinds of travellers coexist: some are welcomed, served, pampered; others are ignored, monitored, and sidelined.
If someone is seeking asylum, it implies they are looking for safety owing to a lack of human rights in their country. But seeking asylum is also about rebuilding your life and having the chance to move forward. Nevertheless, in Greece, the process for asylum seekers and refugees is slow and complex.
At the start of each year, we often reflect on what we are grateful for and set our intentions for the future. Some cherish a stable home, proximity to loved ones, or the ability to engage in meaningful work. Others value hobbies, personal freedoms, or simply the sense of security that allows them to plan ahead. Whatever the case, the foundation of what people care about is their ability to choose—to shape their own futures with stability and autonomy. But what happens when that stability is abruptly taken away?
The number of people in need of international protection continues to rise. According to the European Commission, there are currently 120 million people displaced around the world. Although three quarters of refugees hail from five countries (Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine), refugees and asylum seekers must not be treated as one entity and cultural nuances must be integrated into any community building activities. The same approach applies to gender! Women and children’s spaces aim to offer a gendered lens to issues arising from displacement by addressing gender-specific protection concerns.
“No matter how many years you live here, you will remain a foreigner” Fatema, visitor to the Victoria Community Centre* In Greece, racial profiling has become an entrenched issue that deeply impacts the lives of people on the move. For refugees and asylum seekers, a simple walk in Athens can quickly turn into a distressing encounter with law enforcement.
